GET GOING WITH YOUR GIVING

Each year The Sunday Times Giving List reveals who among the rich and famous gives the most to charity. Whilst this is a great celebration of generosity and an interesting read, it can be hard for many of us to relate to. But you don’t have to be on the list to make a difference – here are some useful tips on how to become a (mini) philanthropist.

1 FIND THE RIGHT CHARITY

With thousands of charities to pick from it can be challenging to find the right one. It’s important to do some research and look for clear goals and achievements of the charity. A previous interest in or experience of a cause may help narrow down your search.

Our Find a charity search engine has a database of over 160,000 registered charities. Simply type key words into the search toolbar to help find the right charity for you.

2 DONATE YOUR TIME AND SKILLS

Volunteering is a great way of actively helping a cause close to your heart. Planning what skills and how much time you wish to donate will ensure a valuable experience and your actions may inspire others to become actively involved in their chosen causes.

3 DONATE UNWANTED CLOTHES OR GIFTS

It was reported David and Victoria Beckham raised an amazing £40,000 for charity from a sale of their cast-offs. Although not all of our wardrobes are filled with designer labels, you may be surprised with how much you can raise from donating your unwanted gifts or clothes. Most charity shops accept donations of clothes, books or children’s toys (don’t forget you can check with the charity on what what they can and cannot accept). Use our charity search to find charities in your area.

If you have HMRC qualifying shares, you might also want to consider gifting your shares to charity.

4 BE A SAVVY GIVER

You might not be able to hire a personal financial advisor, but you can still be financially savvy.